TL;DR:
- DDN and Helmholtz Munich receive the 2023 AI Breakthrough Award for Best AI-based Solution for Life Sciences.
- Their collaborative work accelerates AI-driven discoveries in biomedical research, benefiting society and human health.
- Helmholtz Munich, part of Germany’s largest research organization, integrates AI methodologies in various data-intensive computational applications.
- DDN’s parallel file system technology supports Helmholtz Munich’s research demands, enabling faster discovery processes.
- The award highlights the commitment of both organizations to promoting a healthier society through scientific advancements.
Main AI News:
In a resounding victory, DDN, a renowned global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and multi-cloud data management solutions, has emerged triumphant alongside Helmholtz Munich as winners of the esteemed 2023 AI Breakthrough Awards. The prestigious accolade was bestowed upon them in recognition of their exceptional contributions in the realm of AI-driven breakthroughs, specifically within the field of Life Sciences. This well-deserved honor underscores their unwavering commitment to accelerating discoveries that generate tangible benefits for society and human health.
Helmholtz Munich, a constituent part of the Helmholtz Association and Germany’s largest research organization, stands tall among 19 distinguished research centers dedicated to pioneering cutting-edge biomedical solutions and technologies for a better tomorrow. Their groundbreaking research integrates advanced AI methodologies, spanning a diverse range of data-intensive computational applications. From unraveling the mysteries of plant genomes to conducting crucial tissue sample testing and encompassing sweeping creature and epidemiology cohort studies, Helmholtz Munich’s scientists and researchers consistently explore novel avenues to expedite solutions for complex problems. To keep pace with the demanding research requirements, they turned to DDN’s unparalleled parallel file system technology.
Dr. Alf Wachsmann, the head of DigIT Infrastructure & Scientific Computing at Helmholtz Munich, expressed his admiration for the remarkable work being undertaken by the institution, stating, “The work that Helmholtz Munich is doing is making strides in scientific discovery and is poised to help change the world for the better. With DDN’s expertise, world-class customer support, and high-performing and reliable architecture, I can provide the best data storage solutions to my researchers, helping them continue their work without disruption today and well into the future.” Dr. Wachsmann’s sentiments highlight the honor he feels to be recognized alongside DDN as a recipient of the prestigious AI Breakthrough Awards, emphasizing their shared commitment to promoting and fostering a healthier society.
At the core of Helmholtz Munich’s data infrastructure lie four fully populated SFA ES7990X systems, seamlessly integrated into a global namespace. This infrastructure empowers effortless control and management of vast data sets, streamlining workflows and delivering an unmatched performance that significantly reduces the time required for groundbreaking discoveries. Additionally, the implementation of an SFA NVMe ES400NVX system with GPU integration enables faster data throughput, providing direct datapaths between storage and GPU, thereby optimizing intensive AI applications. DDN’s cutting-edge EXAscaler parallel file system appliances serve as a powerful catalyst, substantially accelerating the pace of Helmholtz Munich’s researchers’ discovery processes while mitigating risks associated with the ingestion, distribution, and analysis of Big Data.
Tommaso Cecchi, the senior director of sales EMEA at DDN, emphasized the pivotal role played by DDN’s parallel file system technology in addressing the most demanding AI requirements across various domains and scales. He affirmed, “DDN’s parallel file system technology was built to tackle today’s most demanding AI end-to-end requirements at any scale, delivering the highest performance efficiency straight into generative AI, machine learning, and other enterprise high-performance applications. We are thrilled to receive the AI Breakthrough Award for our role in helping Helmholtz Munich meet its researchers’ evolving AI and data-intensive workload demands by delivering solutions that allow its researchers to focus on the scientific discoveries that improve the world of tomorrow.“
Now in its 6th year, the AI Breakthrough Awards program stands as a testament to excellence, innovation, and remarkable achievements in technological and product leadership within the realms of AI and machine learning. This year’s installment garnered more than 3,000 nominations from around the globe, highlighting the immense competition and the exceptional distinction achieved by the winners.
James Johnson, the managing director of AI Breakthrough, shed light on the broader landscape of AI applications, stating, “While generative AI is grabbing headlines, other promising applications like sophisticated new protein and molecule creations for drug discovery and autonomous driving are also driving the need for efficient, dependable performance that can readily scale.” Johnson further underscored the profound significance of DDN’s purpose-built infrastructure, custom-designed to accommodate the data-hungry workflows and research conducted at Helmholtz Munich. The symbiotic partnership between DDN and Helmholtz Munich paves the way for revolutionary discoveries within the realm of Life Sciences, earning them well-deserved recognition in the esteemed 2023 AI Breakthrough Awards program.
Recently, DDN and Helmholtz Munich jointly organized the highly anticipated Life Sciences Field Day 2023, held at the esteemed Helmholtz Munich campus. The event served as an exclusive platform to delve into an array of captivating topics, ranging from the profound impact of new AI methodologies on research outcomes to the transformative benefits of accelerated computing and sophisticated data management. This gathering of brilliant minds epitomizes the ongoing commitment of DDN and Helmholtz Munich to spearhead advancements in the field of Life Sciences, promising a brighter and healthier future for all.
Conclusion:
DDN and Helmholtz Munich’s recognition with the AI Breakthrough Award in Life Sciences signifies their exceptional contributions to the market. Their collaborative efforts in advancing AI-driven discoveries and solutions for biomedical research demonstrate their expertise in data-intensive computational applications. DDN’s parallel file system technology, tailored to meet research demands, solidifies its position as the leader in AI storage infrastructure. This achievement positions them favorably in the market, reinforcing their reputation for providing high-performing and reliable solutions that accelerate scientific progress and pave the way for transformative breakthroughs in the Life Sciences sector.
